Beta-endorphin in serum and seminal plasma in infertile men / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To access beta-endorphin levels in serum as well as seminal plasma in different infertile male groups.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Beta-endorphin was estimated in the serum and seminal plasma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method in 80 infertile men equally divided into four groups: non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), obstructive azoospermia (OA), congenital bilateral absent vas deferens (CBVAD) and asthenozoospermia. The results were compared to those of 20 normozoospermic proven fertile men.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a decrease in the mean levels of beta-endorphin in the seminal plasma of all successive infertile groups (mean +/- SD: NOA 51.30 +/- 27.37, OA 51.88 +/- 9.47, CBAVD 20.36 +/- 13.39, asthenozoospermia 49.26 +/- 12.49 pg/mL, respectively) compared to the normozoospermic fertile control (87.23 +/- 29.55 pg/mL). This relation was not present in mean serum level of beta-endorphin between four infertile groups (51.09 +/- 14.71, 49.76 +/- 12.4, 33.96 +/- 7.2, 69.1 +/- 16.57 pg/mL, respectively) and the fertile control group (49.26 +/- 31.32 pg/mL). The CBVAD group showed the lowest seminal plasma mean level of beta-endorphin. Testicular contribution of seminal beta-endorphin was estimated to be approximately 40%. Seminal beta-endorphin showed significant correlation with the sperm concentration (r = 0.699, P = 0.0188) and nonsignificant correlation with its serum level (r = 0.375, P = 0.185) or with the sperm motility percentage (r = 0.470, P = 0.899).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The estimation of beta-endorphin alone is not conclusive to evaluate male reproduction as there are many other opiates acting at the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis.</p>

Comparative and correlative study of level of IgA in tears and serum in children and adults [healthy subjects]

In the present work, a correlative and comparative study of serum IgA and tear IgA concentrations in normal subjects were done and both were compared in relation to age. For this purpose forty normal subjects were selected and divided into 2 equal groups: I. The children group includes individuals with age ranging from 5-13 years. 2. The adult group includes individuals with age ranging from 15-47 years [8 females and 12 males]. We obtained blood and tear samples from each case and estimations of serum IgA and tear IgA was done [using radial immune diffusion technique]. The obtained results showed that in adult age there is always a certain degree of correlation between age and both serum and tear IgA levels [positive correlation], as well as between serum and lacrimal IgA levels [negative correlation]. While in young age, correlation only existed between age and tear IgA levels, moreover this correlation was of a negative type i.e. the younger the child the higher the value of tear IgA level. According to our findings, namely absence of significant correlation between serum IgA and tear IgA in children and the negative correlation between serum IgA and tear IgA in adults, one may conceivably postulate that the production of tear IgA is a local process and not a simple transduction from serum

Neutrophil phagocytic activity in lymphoma

A study of the phagocytic activity of neutrophils using the modified Wilkinson method was made in 21 lymphoma and leukemia patients as well as 15 control subjects. The results indicate a marginal reduction of the percentage of phagocytic cells but a very highly significant depression of the phagocytic index. These two parameters could however be correlated [r - 0.95]. No significant differences could be obtained between the various subgroups. Whether the cases are fresh or under therapy seems to be of little bearing but advanced cases had on the whole the lowest figures. The results were discussed in the light of some of the known facts about cancer immunology